New York renters commonly reside in apartment buildings built prior to when central air was widely offered as an amenity.
Tenants should explore alternative cooling methods, such as window AC units or portable ACs, as well as reviewing their lease agreement and building rules regarding this topic.
Tenants should use appliances such as their dishwasher, laptop or curling wand only sparingly to reduce unnecessary heat emissions.
Time of Day
Dependent upon their apartment building, some apartments may set specific times when they turn on the AC unit. For instance, in hot cities they may want to start early so as to cool their apartment before outside temperatures rise and heat it up from within. Or they could leave it on all day with just changes made to thermostat settings to increase or decrease temperatures as necessary.
If an apartment complex contains multiple apartments, its landlord may wish to set each unit to operate on an equal schedule so that air can circulate more evenly throughout. This will make the AC work less hard, saving energy.
Tenants can control when their apartments use air conditioning by adjusting the thermostat and closing windows, keeping vents open when temperatures outside are cooler, or keeping windows shut until cooling occurs. Doing this may make their apartment more comfortable while simultaneously decreasing how long the ac must work to cool it down.
Temperature Outside
Temperature can have an enormous effect on how hot or cold your apartment feels. If the outside temperatures are warm, you may need to keep running your air conditioner longer in order to remain comfortable; but in cooler weather you could turn off your air conditioner more quickly to save energy and save yourself some money.
An ideal apartment temperature should make you feel cozy without using too much energy, which requires experimentation with various temperatures to find what suits. Fans may also help circulate air more efficiently to reduce energy costs.
Some landlords may choose to set the heating and cooling systems of their buildings at preset temperatures that they believe will be comfortable for most tenants in order to save on energy costs while keeping all apartments at a consistent temperature. Unfortunately, this can result in discomfort for some tenants; if this is the case in your building, contact management about changing it immediately.
If you live in a rent-regulated apartment, your landlord must ensure that heat and hot water services are available at all times, even when they aren’t being utilized by tenants. This requirement is known as “warranty of habitability”. In short, their landlord must ensure these services remain available even if no one uses them at the moment.
Winter in New York City requires that all apartments be heated to an agreed upon temperature; this period is known as “heat season.” From October 1 to May 31, landlords must maintain temperatures in each apartment at at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 degrees at night for optimal heating results.
Tenants who do not wish for their heat to come on should request that it be shut off from the building’s central control. Their landlord must comply if the request is in writing; those unhappy with the temperature in their apartments can file a complaint with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Thermostat Settings
Apartment temperatures can often become an area of contention among roommates or between tenants and landlords over energy bills, yet thermostat settings can make a real difference to savings on energy bills while keeping a comfortable home environment. If you are renting, having the appropriate thermostat settings in your apartment could make all the difference to savings on energy costs while remaining cool in your own space.
Setting your thermostat to an appropriate temperature will have an immense effect on how effectively your AC runs in your home, particularly on hot days. For maximum efficiency, an ideal setting should be set to around 68 degrees; leaving this setting will keep you comfortable at home and help prevent too much steaminess from building up inside your apartment.
Setting a timer on your thermostat to turn off during hours when you are not present is an effective way of maintaining comfort without overusing air conditioning. For instance, setting it for 5:15 pm allows the air conditioning to be off during your commute but automatically turn back on at a cooler temperature in anticipation of your return home.
Box or oscillating fans are an effective way to distribute cool air throughout your apartment and reduce some of the burden placed upon the AC unit. Opening windows during cooler weather also helps, though make sure that any vents are free-flowing so air can move smoothly through them.
Another key consideration when setting your thermostat is how much heat is generated in your apartment by appliances like stoves, computers, and dishwashers. You can reduce their impact by turning them off during periods when you are away or unplugging them when not needed.
Finally, to reduce energy bills you can save money by raising the thermostat at night when sleeping. While adding just a few degrees may not seem like much at first glance, slowly raising it each night will bring your apartment closer to meeting recommended seasonal temperature while allowing you to save energy bills while still staying comfortably cool inside your home.
Maintenance
Apartment maintenance encompasses an array of tasks and repairs, from replacing an air filter to fixing a leaky water pipe. Larger complexes may provide dedicated staff or online portals to handle requests directly. Tenants should use these resources whenever possible to streamline the process and document delivery tracking numbers as proof.
Tenants should understand they are only accountable for a limited amount of maintenance, yet should always report any concerns to their landlord. Landlords expect normal wear and tear; renters should avoid creating additional damage beyond what was present when they moved in; this includes anything such as pet accidents that leave stains behind or appliance malfunctions that spark fires. Tenants must bring any structurally unsafe elements, vermin infestations or security risks immediately to management’s attention.
In some states, tenants may be allowed to perform certain forms of maintenance themselves depending on their lease terms and landlord policy. For instance, tenants are usually expected to change or clean the air filter frequently to maintain optimal air flow in their apartment, and make sure thermostat batteries are regularly replaced without incurring additional costs to them.
Tenants often request maintenance work related to electrical problems. These issues could include wall outlets that don’t work, light fixtures that won’t turn on, and ceiling fans that won’t blow cool air. A tripped circuit breaker might be to blame, however if this issue persists further assistance should be sought from building management.
If tenants believe their landlord has not responded promptly to their maintenance requests, they can file a formal complaint with the local housing authority or Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Their complaint should include specific examples as to why their landlord has failed to act upon these matters; depending on the severity of their violation of housing codes they could even face fines or forced repairs themselves.